Before money transfer services and courier companies, there was only the government owned post office. I remember the days when relatives abroad used to write on folded and glued papers or greeting cards in between which were a few pieces of green paper with the faces of American presidents on them. After the “how are yous” and “happy birthdays” they’d write in convoluted, cryptic codes detailing the whereabouts of the hidden stash. Somehow, SOMEONE always found it first and we’d get mail with lots of scotch tape as if SOMEONE fed it accidentally to a pet Chihuahua with issues.
The post office always got blamed. I wonder if they really were to blame or the relatives never really sent Franklins and McKinleys.